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'C. L. RICE. Spring for Vehicies.

Patented Feb; 11, 1868.

E w H H CHARLES L; RICE, OF DUNMORE, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 74,424, dated February 11, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPRINGS FOR VEHICLES.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. RICE, o'i' Dunmore, in the county of Luzerne, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented'a. new and useful Improvement in the Application of Springs t o Wheel-Vch icles and that the following description, taken inconnection with .the accompanying drawings, hereinafter referred to, forms a full and exact specification of the same, wherein Ihave'set forth the nature and principles of my said improvement, by which my ifivention may be distinguished from all others of a similar class, together with such parts asI i claim, and desire to have secured to me by Letters Patent. i v v This invention relates to a new and improved application of springs to wheel-vehiclegas hereinafter fully shown and described, whereby the body of a vehicle is prevented from moving ,longitndinally forwurd or back ward, and also prevented from tilting sidewise in an appreciable degree, while, atthiel same time, the body is better supported than usual by the springs. In the accompanying sheet of drawings*"v Figure 1 is a side view of my invention.

Figure 2,11 transverse vertical section of the same, taken in the line 2: w, fig. 1;

Similar letters of rei'erence indicate like parts. V h

A A represent the front and rear spring-bars of a Wheel-vehicle, and Bthe reach or perch which connects them. 0 is the frame of the carriage-body which rests at the front and rear ends upon elliptic springs D D, which may be of usual construction. E E represent, two side 'springs, the lower ends of which are connected by hinges or joints 4 to the reach B, and the luppenends connected to the sides of the frame C,,as shownclearly' in fig. 2. F is a spring, the lower end of which is attached to the reach B, between the lower ends of the side springs E, E, the upper end of said spring being attached to the front end of theframe C, asshown clearly in ii 1. l

g It will be seen from the above description, and the drawingsreferrcd to, that the side springs E E are substitutes for the side straps or chains commonly used for preventing the side springingor sagging of the sides of the vehicle when a wheel strikes suddenly a stone or any hard prominence in the'i'oad, and the spring F prevents longitudinal play of the body from the same cause, or when descending eminences ongoing up the same. This: spring is also a substitute for a chain or strap frequently used to accomplish the same'end. l

The advantage of the springs E E F over thestrap's and chains is manifest. In the first place, the springs V assist the elliptic springs D D in supporting the body, and admit of the elliptic springs being made lighter than they otherwise could be. They, also afford a better-support for the body, preventing the sagging of the same, and, while preventing side-swinging and longitudinal play of the body, donot check its movementsabruptly so as to cause jars and concussions, and subject the bolts and various connections of the vehicle to undu strain; They also add to the appearance of the vehicle, and will not, at least in an appreciable degree, enhance its cost. I would state that one or more springs F may be used, one at the rear of the body if desired, and also that two pairs of side springs E may be employed. I 1

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent-1 The combination of theside springs E, whose lower ends are hinged'at a to each side of the reach, and whose upper curved ends are hinged to the sides of the wagon-body, and the spring F, whose innerend is secured to reach between the springs E, and whose forward end passes thrdugh the springs D, and is bent over and hinged to the forward edge of the upper part ofesaid spring, all arranged and operating as described, to prevent,

i the longitudinal and lateral movements of the body, as herein set forth.

CHARLES L. RICE.

Witnesses:

Guns. ,8. Wsnns, A. H. ELLIS. 

